PORTLAND, Jamaica — After receiving a letter of complaint from the principal of Happy Grove High School on Friday about the issue of lack of transportation reportedly being faced by some students since January 2022, member of Parliament for East Portland, Ann-Marie Vaz, has moved to consult with Education Minister, Fayval Williams, and other stakeholders about the situation.

Students are said to be having difficulty getting to and from school as a result of some transport operators withdrawing their services due to the work taking place on the Southern Coastal Highway Improvement Project.

According to a release, during discussions yesterday, Williams committed to dispatching a team to Happy Grove High to get a first-hand account of issues being faced by students so that a solution may be arrived at in the short order.

Vaz has vowed to take serious interest in the matter especially after the negative impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on face-to-face learning.

The East Portland MP reiterated that the government takes seriously any issue which may affect children’s education and is exercising best efforts to find a solution to the reported challenge being faced by stakeholders at Happy Grove High.

Vaz has also raised with various stakeholders the issue of a reported dust nuisance and terrible road conditions which some residents and transportation operators are reportedly experiencing.

The East Portland MP says she’s been advised that the National Works Agency will begin work on Thursday to rehabilitate an alternative route to assist with alleviating some of the challenges being faced.Over $100 million has been earmarked for this project, Vaz said.

Vaz said in the constant bid to alleviate challenges facing constituents, work took place in February on the Goblin Road, which is another alternative route.

“I am making the necessary earnest representation with the hope that any intervention which may bring some interim relief to residents, including students and other stakeholders, may be arranged as soon as possible. I am convinced that it should not be beyond us to pursue this key and long awaited development project with the least possible inconvenience to my constituents,” she said.